diff --git a/sys/compat/linux/linux_futex.c b/sys/compat/linux/linux_futex.c
index 847adcbbec7..b0fcfdfd297 100644
--- a/sys/compat/linux/linux_futex.c
+++ b/sys/compat/linux/linux_futex.c
@@ -643,6 +643,7 @@ futex_wait(struct futex *f, struct waiting_proc *wp, struct timespec *ts,
 
 	if (bitset == 0) {
 		LIN_SDT_PROBE1(futex, futex_wait, return, EINVAL);
+		futex_put(f, wp);
 		return (EINVAL);
 	}